Extra HGVs on A24 at Capel? It’s totally round the bend

July 21, 2017 12:45 PM

Liberal Democrat activist Lesley Bushnell is working with local residents opposed to the reopening of the Auclaye Claypit near Capel. If the proposed re-opening goes ahead, local residents are in for six years of noise pollution, dust and loss of amenities. Bad enough you might think. But by far the most serious prospect is an extra 149 HGV movements a day, turning into and out of the small Knoll Farm track along a double bend stretch of the A24 just south of Capel village.

That's going to be six days a week of slow lorries, hampering the traffic flow! That's going to be more heavy vehicles (an extra 20% HGVs) churning up the already poor road surface. Thundering over the accident-prone railway bridge, which has potholes on it now.

And think of wet clay on the road! Of course, if there is an incident, the whole road gets closed with lengthy diversions along the A29. Surrey County Council knows perfectly well how treacherous this section of the A24 is, having previously proposed improvement schemes, shelved for lack of funds. So, let's hope they will give this some serious safety considerations.

It's not too late to have your say. The hearing has been postponed. So visit the County Council website